Andrew Shaw Suspension: NHL Overacts After Enduring Criticism Early in Playoffs

The NHL, more specifically discipline czar Brendan Shanahan, needs to stop reading the editorial page of the sports section.

The playoffs are a week old, and the No. 1 story has revolved around the physicality and big-time hits that have left players bloodied, bruised and unable to play the next game.

Last week it was OK, but Shanahan has experienced a sudden change of heart after suspending Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw for three games following a violent collision with Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith. (Click here for Shanahan’s full explanation.)

I’m not saying he shouldn’t have been disciplined, but three games in a playoff series is too much. Smith was able to stay in the game and has shown no lingering effects from the hit. Was it a dumb play? Sure. But should it cost Shaw’s team so much?

The biggest farce in the decision lies in the previous line that Shanahan had drawn in the sand. After ruling with an iron fist during the regular season, he completely ignored a much more violent and uncalled for play last Wednesday.

In Game 1 of the Red Wings and Nashville Predator series, Shea Weber took multiple cheap shots on Henrik Zetterbeg, including a punch to the head after the buzzer had sounded to end the game.

Looking at the video, there is no question that Weber knew exactly what he was doing. The malicious intent was there. Not only was he able to play in Game 2, Weber was slapped with a mere $2,500 fine. That’s chump change. That’s laundry money.

So, literally three days later after the media was enraged with the lack of penalty, Shaw was the guy that had to be made an example of.

Shanahan decided that a player like Shaw, who doesn’t have any sort of history of dirty plays, needed to be taught a harsh lesson, while a repeat offender in Weber skated away a free man.

Now, what would happen if another player were to pull the same antics of Shaw tonight? Would a multi-game suspension follow?

The league has a huge issue on its hands, and it must stop overacting to what they read in the papers and on the Internet. Shanahan is directly affecting the playoffs, and Chicago is now behind the eight ball because of a sudden change of heart.

Shanahan has to set a standard of consistency before this issue gets out of control. We need to be focusing on all of the overtime thrillers, not the decisions of a retired guy in a suit.

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